First Story

Glowing, Bronzed and Dangerous

Washington State University students continue to seek a “natural” glow despite health warnings associated with artificial tanning.

“I feel like I just can’t get cancer,” said WSU student Danielle Lamre.

Students achieving tanned skin using artificial tanning beds put themselves at a high health risk in one of Pullman’s seven different tanning salons.

“Tanning targets an age group that won’t be thinking about what their skin will look like in 20 years,” said Sandy O’Keefe R.N. at St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center in Lewiston, Idaho. “It is predicted that skin cancer rates will be on the rise with this continued cultural trend.”

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation website, “First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.” Another statistic found on the website was that 71 percent of those who use tanning beds are 16- to 29-year-old females.

O’Keefe said that the ultraviolet rays, or UVR, used in tanning beds are an additive to oncogenes, a gene that helps turns normal cells into a tumor cell. She said it is important to look at the psychology of this age group.

“College-aged kids are psychologically more prone to risk taking with their disregard of the health warnings presented to them,” said O’Keefe.

This lack of concern for risk is acknowledged in the tanning community. Ruthanna Kure, Rock Star Tan Bar manager; Marti Sherdan, Simply Tanning and Nail employee, and Trina Galli, Glo Tanning employee all said tanners are required to sign a waiver before they can use tanning beds.

Sherdan said the waiver informs clients of risks of not using the protective goggles, overexposure, allergic reaction, premature skin aging, and skin cancer.

There is no more detail besides mentioning at the end that skin cancer is a possible side effect of tanning bed use. Lamre said if she knew someone who had skin cancer it would affect her view on tanning.

“I moved from California where there was always natural sun, but sometimes here it’s not always an option,” said Lamre. “Class can get in the way of being able to lie outside. Instead I tan at Rock Star Tan Bar five days a week, all year round.

“I don’t have that close to home feeling with skin cancer,” she said. “I don’t have anyone I know who has skin cancer to really let it affect me.”

Lamre said she isn’t afraid of getting skin cancer and admitted it’s a naïve way to think, but figures if she does get it there will be a cure by that time. Not everyone is at such a high risk, however.

“It depends on the cell type of the patient,” said O’Keefe. “It also depends on a person’s genetic predisposition to cancer. But with tanning beds, there are areas of the body normally not seen by the light of day are now exposed and don’t have natural protective cells to UVR.”

Women are not the only clients’ risking their health at Pullman’s tanning salons.

“We have lots of guys that come in,” said Galli. “A lot of frat guys will come in groups, but pay only with cash. They say they pay like this because they don’t want their parents seeing tanning purchases on their credit card statements.”

Meghan McCaige, a WSU student, was not surprised that guys “fake and bake” as well.

“Tanning is a cultural thing,” she said. “It’s the new standard of beauty and guys have just as much pressure to be tan that girls do.

McCaige said she doesn’t try to tan because she is too pale and just burns, but still feels a lot of pressure to be tan.

“It’s like when you are swimming with all your friends,” she said. “There is always that point when you put your legs next to each other and compare how tan you are to the others.”

Not everyone is as informed about the effects of UVR exposure on the body, but the lack of risk acknowledgement is well known with students.

“I’m told it’s not good for you, but I didn’t know it was unhealthy,” said WSU student Jason Paul. “I use sunscreen when I’m in the sun, but don’t tan in tanning beds. People who tan probably just think they will be in the percentage that won’t get it and they keep tanning.”

This cultural trend is not going to go away simply because of a few health warnings. McCaige said pale skin needs to be elevated to the same beauty level that tan skin is held at.

“It’s like the Dove Real Beauty Campaign,” she said, “that promoted beauty in the many different shapes and sizes women come in. Pale skin needs to be seen as good and beautiful so we can step away from the pressure to be tan.”